Woman embezzled nearly $1 million

Friday

Apr 4, 2014 at 12:01 AM

SACRAMENTO - A former Health Plan of San Joaquin assistant controller has pleaded guilty to embezzling $100,000 from the county insurance provider and nearly $1 million from her former employer, U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced Thursday.

Jennie Rodriguez-Moore

SACRAMENTO - A former Health Plan of San Joaquin assistant controller has pleaded guilty to embezzling $100,000 from the county insurance provider and nearly $1 million from her former employer, U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced Thursday.

Shanika Brewer of Tracy was hired in December 2012 by the county medical group, which handles health care benefits and services to county employees.

When the 35-year-old Brewer became assistant controller, she reorganized the accounts payable department and started falsifying invoices and checks to pay for personal expenses, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors estimate the Health Plan of San Joaquin's loss to be $100,000.

"She was hired to put county controls in the health care plan," said Deputy District Attorney Stephen Taylor, who worked jointly with the FBI in the investigation.

Brewer was supposed to protect the county from embezzlers. "And she did. Except from her," Taylor said.

The county insurance group wasn't the only employer taken by Brewer.

During the investigation, authorities uncovered that Brewer had stolen a total of $800,000 from her previous employer, Agilent Technologies, formerly Varian Inc., between 2008 and 2011.

Brewer had checks issued to vendors that provided personal merchandise and services to her. She paid student loans, her mortgage and her children's school tuition. She also deposited some of the money into her personal bank account and paid for home improvements.

"The money was used to support a lifestyle for her and her family that was well beyond her legitimate earnings," FBI Special Agent Monica M. Miller of the Sacramento field office said in a written statement.

The investigation was initiated by the IMPACT Unit of the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office. The FBI came in to bring federal charges.

"This type of state and federal teamwork is a prime example of how cooperation results in fast, efficient, and appropriate resolution of cases affecting employers throughout California," Wagner said in a written statement.

County District Attorney James P. Willett in a written statement advised area employers and businesses to implement strong checks and balances over their financial records.

Brewer's theft was detected six months from the time the fraud began, but in most cases, embezzlement goes on for years, Willett said.

Taylor adds that employers should have records checked by at least two people, who are not related or "chummy" with one another.

Brewer's crimes came to the surface only because one of Brewer's creditors, First Premier Bank of South Dakota, found it odd that her credit card bill was continuously being paid by a government body.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jean M. Hobler worked out a resolution with Brewer pleading guilty Thursday to embezzlement and mail fraud.

Brewer is scheduled to be sentenced June 26 and faces a possible maximum of 10 years in prison and a maximum restitution of double the embezzlement amount.

Contact reporter Jennie Rodriguez-Moore at (209) 943-8564 or jrodriguez@recordnet.com. Follow her at recordnet.com/courtsblog and on Twitter @TheRecordCourts.